Constable landscape painting looking over to Dedham Village

I don't often venture into the art world as it's not something I know a great deal about. Having said that, I know when I find art attractive and I'm quick to realise when something has been created by an exceptionally talented person.

This post isn't about the painting though..it's about the location from where landscape artist John Constable painted it.

Today's newspapers are carrying the story about the location of one of John Constable's paintings. It is a view looking out across Suffolk's Stour Valley in the direction of Dedham Village; in the middle distance, the square tower of Dednham Church can clearly be seen...so too can the river Stour; winding its way through the valley bottom.

The National Trust's property manager for East Suffolk, Martin Atkinson, claims to have pinpointed the exact location of the above painting.

The image being held up in the Mail is said to be the spot where the un-named painting was created by Constable when he was about forty-years-old.

...I am not so convinced (although I think Martin is there or thereabout as he mentions Flatford.

In the photo, the horizon looks too far, Dedham Church is not visible and the foreground out of context. The two men loading or unloading the cart seem to be standing on a track and there is a good chance it is at the edge of a farmyard - it is likely that this would not have changed too much over time.

For a bit of fun; using Google maps and a little bit of landscape detective work, I think I have pinpointed the exact spot where Constable painted the scene.

Look at the screenshot taken using Google maps: take note of the orientation of the church building. I have marked the two distinct bends in the river and the diagonal hedgerow (I've taken a view that this hasn't changed).

Now, taking distances, perspective and scale into consideration, I have sort of taken a view - almost like a back bearing orientation - and narrowed the Constable painting location down; I've marked it with a circle.

What do you think?

Click to enlarge all images and follow the Google map link and zoom-in.

Comments

[Constable Fan - Tom Gurney]

I'm also dubious as to how they can be sure that they've found the right location, but it is great to see such art still in people's minds. There was also a feature recently on the location of Millais' Ophelia, but, again, i need a little more evidence.

I shall check out your Google Maps links and compare to the Constable original painting... Thanks for posting!

[Helen Gazeley]

I think someone needs to go and check it out.

Regarding Ophelia, I've always understood that it was painted by the Hogsmill, Ewell, Surrey, although the model Lizzie Siddall posed in a bath for hours and caught a severe chill. Has someone said something different?